More Harmless Fun

Civics Quiz: I didn’t do so hot:

You answered 50 out of 60 correctly — 83.33 %
Average score for this quiz during September: 73.9%
Average score since September 18, 2007: 73.9%

5 of my misses were history knowledge misses, and 5 were political science misses.

Yeah, I didn’t bomb the quiz, but a liberal ought to do better than that!

Take the quiz here (yes, this is the one that Cal Thomas was talking about; yes, the same clown who laments students not doing well on this exam but still holds to the universe being made 6000 years ago)

Barack Obama: before he was a presidential candidate, he showed up to help State Senator David Koehler.

Grandma’s Attic has some photos here.

I’ve borrowed one of them; she has many more.

She also has some small-town Illinois shots (Lacon) too.

Yoga

I love this avatar.

Longish walk; football thoughts

Workout notes I slept in and intended to drive out to East Peoria. But I found myself automatically driving to McNaughton Park! I turned away when I found that they were having some sort of an event there and didn’t get to the East Peoria bikepath until 8:30.

My first out and back wasn’t that bad (11 miles 1:21, 1:22) But my second one was done in the “just get it over with” mode: 10 miles 1:17, 1:19 (5:20 for 21)

I keep being reminded of why I like to start earlier; this time it got to 85 (low humidity though) but I needed some heat conditioning. There aren’t many people out there and they are mostly friendly; too friendly. At about mile 12-13 I start getting grumpy and am in no mood to smile and say “hi” to those I don’t know; internally I say “Hey, I am suffering, so shut up and leave me alone” inside my head, though I usually manage a grin, small wave and a grunt. But it is an internal thing; I soften up when I see someone who is training (e. g., putting forth some effort)

Anyway, this workout wasn’t exactly redemption for last week, and yesterday’s 13 miles took something out of me. But it was a nice “stiff” workmanlike effort in moderate heat.

And, it was my first 60 mile week in a while; I have to really work up to it slowly.

Football Last night saw some interesting action. Ohio State took out Minnesota 30-7; Minnesota’s uniforms reminded one announcer of “mustard jars”.

USC held off an tough Washington squad 27-24; this makes Ohio State’s big win there (33-14) look much, much better. But what a 4 weeks Washington has had: Boise State (win), Ohio State, UCLA and now USC. I wonder if anyone else has had such a hard month.

Washington wore retro uniforms and looked a bit like Notre Dame.

My guess is that if they don’t all get injured, the Huskies will make it to a nice bowl game.

Of course, Auburn “upset” Florida (one good team beating another); K-State’s loss at Auburn doesn’t look that bad now.

In two other excellent games: Wisconsin edged Michigan State by a field goal, and Cal held off Oregon when the Ducks fumbled while going into the endzone with the touchdown that would have sent the game into overtime.

College photos hotlinked to the Yahoo Photo Gallery.

In the NFL: the Bears got beat by Detroit (I picked the Lions) and the Cowboys routed the hapless Rams.

Oh, those upsets!

More action from this Saturday: (photos from Yahoo College Football Gallery)

Colorado takes down Oklahoma 27-24

Texas gets hammered by Kansas State 41-21

Texas was done in by poor special teams play and turnovers. K-State returned a punt for a touchdown, a kickoff for a touchdown, ran back an interception for a touchdown and intercepted 4 Texas passes.

Rutgers goes down to Maryland 34-24

Yes, Illinois beat Penn State 27-20

And South Florida beat West Virginia 21-13

But these latter two results weren’t really upsets; just one good team beating another good team.